Metal recycling software for the weighbridge and the yard

Scrap metal recyclers take in a constant stream of material. Old cars, stripped appliances, offcuts from building sites, cable, copper and aluminium. Every load has value, and from October 2026 every load also has to be logged with DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking Service within two working days.

Scrap metal is controlled waste the moment it is discarded, even though you pay for it. If you hold an environmental permit to receive metal for recycling, you are a receiving site under the DWTS. Every load that crosses the gate needs a digital record with the correct EWC code, carrier details and weight. If you operate under a registered waste exemption rather than a full permit, check your specific exemption category with your regulator, since DEFRA has not confirmed a firm Phase 1 date for that group.

Metal loads sit in a small band of EWC codes, mostly the 17 04 and 16 01 chapters. A load of ferrous is coded differently from a mixed load of cable and non-ferrous, and getting that right means the record is correct on the day rather than fixed after an inspection. LoadLog pre-fills the codes you use most, so the operator is not typing them from memory.

LoadLog records the load from a tablet at the weighbridge. The operator enters the waste type, the EWC code, the vehicle and the carrier. The system checks the carrier registration against the Environment Agency's public register before the load is accepted. Both parties sign on screen, and the record submits to DEFRA automatically.

Compliance Lite is free until the end of 2026 for anyone who signs up before October. Metal recyclers can meet the first year of the mandate without paying a subscription.

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